12-keto progestational steroids and derivatives thereof



7 3,185,713 12-KETo PROGESTATIONAL DERIVATIVES THEaEoF 'srEnoms AND Edward Joseph Becker, Princeton, and Allen Cohen, East Brunswick, N.J., assignors to ()iin Mathieson Chemical Corporation," New York,-N.Y., a corporation of Virginia 'No Drawing. Filed Apr. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 272,552 r Claims. (Cl. 260-41973) a This invention relates to and has as its objects the pro vision of novel physiologically active steroids, methods for preparing the same and new intermediates in said preparation. v p

r The final products of this'invention can be represented the formulae wherein R is hydrogen; R may be either in the alpha or' beta position and is selected from thegroup consisting of i liydroxy and acyloxyiand together R and R, iS X0 (0 and R" is selected fromthe group acyl and lower alkyl.

consisting of hydrogen,

The acyl radicals preferred in the tion are those of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than ten carbon atoms as exemplified by the lower a1-' kanoi'c acids, such as acetic, butyric and t'erL-pentanoic acids; the lower alk'enoic acids; the monocyclic aryl carboxylic acids, such as benzoic and toluic acids; the monocyclic aryl lower alkanoic acids, such as phenacetic 'and fl phenylpropionic acids; the cycloalkane carboxylic acids and the cycloalkene carboxylic acids.

The compounds of this invention are physiologically active steroids which possess progestational activity and thus can be employed instead of progesterone,.for example, in the treatment of habitual abortion, for which purpose they can be administered inthe same manner as practice of this inven- United States Patent 0 3,185,713 Eaterzized May '25, 1965 Hce To obtain some of the'final products of this invention 9a-fluoro 11 ketoprogesterone-3,ZO-bis-ethyleneketal isfirst reacted with methyl lithium and the resultant product hydrolyzed as by I treatment with suliuric acid to yield lla-hydroxy 12 ketoprogesterone and 12a-hydroxy-1 lketop'rogesterone (Compounds C) both otwhich are 'new final products of this invention.

In order to obtain the respective 11 and 12 ester derivat-ives of this; invention (i.e. wherein R and R" is acyloxy,

progesterone, for example, the dosagebeing adjusted for the relative potency of the particular steroid.

The novel products of this invention are prepared by the process of this invention which entail a number of stepsstar'ting with 9oc-fiuoro-1l-ketoprbgsterone-B,ZO-bisethyleneketal, as starting material, The steps of the process may be represented by the following equations wherein R, R' and R- are as hereinbefore defined:

V on,

a l (I R=aOII n ,RfaCHgGOO such ias CH COG), the 11 and 12 hydroxy derivatives are reacted with the desired acylating agent (e.g., acyl chloride or acid anhydride) in the presence of a base, such as pyridine. Although any ester may be thusly prepared, the preferred esters are those with hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than twelve carbon atoms. These are formed by reaction with the acyl chloride or acid anhydride of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than twelve carbon atoms, such as one of the acids listed hereinbefore.

In order to obtain the final products of this invention wherein an' 11,12 diketo group or M -double bond is present, ,the a and 12a-hydroxy derivatives are oxidized, as by treatment with bismuth oxide to the 11,12- dioxo and 11 oxygenated A901) progesterones (Compounds D) which are also new compounds of this invenprogesterone (Compounds C) which is a new compound of this invention.

The invention may be further illustrated by the following examples: 7

' EXAMPLE 1 11 Ot-hYdlOJCY-J 2-ketoprogesterone (III) and IZa-Izydroxy- 1 1 -kt0progester0ne (I) "The addition is held at a rate sufiicient to maintain a controlled reflux. The solution then stands at 25 C. for 12- 16 hours before use.

r V 71.11%; H, 8.30%.

The methyl lithium reagent is then added to the stirred solution of the steroid at room temperature. Again the rate is such, so as to maintain light refiux. The reaction mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for 18 hours. The excess reagent is then destroyed by the careful addition of 7.5 l. of methanol, then 7.5 l. of water. The phases are split and the aqueous portion extracted with 30 ml. of chloroform. The combined organic phase is Washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to a resinous mass. This material is dissolved in 1.8 l. of hot hexane and kept at 25 C. for 24 hours. The product is collected on a Buchner filter, washed with cold hexane and dried in vacuum to give 382g, M.P. 170- 181 C. A second crop of 136 g. is obtained.

50 mg. of the above material is dissolved in 2-1. of methanol/dioxane 1:1 and 100 m1. of 10% sulfuric acid and heated under reflux for one hour. The methanol solution is cooled, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The organic phase is washed with Water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 42 g. of material which is chromatographed on alumina. Elution of the column with benzene/chloroform 5:2, then 1:1 and finally chloroform gives the following two compounds:

11a-hydroxy-l2-ketoprogesterone (III), M.P. 165-168 C., [:1 :3 +187 )\max. 240 mu; emax. 16,300. Calculated for C H O (344.43): C, 73.23%; H, 8.19%. Found: C, 73.25%; H, 8.24%;

a and 12a-hydroxy-1l-ketoprogesterone (I), M.P. 185-190 C.,

[041 +240 Mnax. 238 mu; emax. 15,600. Calculated for C l-1 0 (344.43): C, 73.23%; H, 8.19%. 'Found: C, 73.16%; H, 8.12%.

EXAMPLE 2 11ct-acetoxy-12-ket0progester0ne (IV) give the purified product, M.P. 226-228" C.,

,+ 168 22.10 mg./2 ml. chloroform.

Analysis.Calculated for C H O (388.49): C,

Found: C, 71.19%; H, 8.34%.

Similarly, following the procedure set forth in Example 2, but substituting equivalent amounts of propionic anhydride, benzoyl chloride and butyric anhydride, for acetic anhydride the respective lla-acyloxy derivatives of l2-ketoprogesterone are obtained.

EXAMPLE 3 12 u-acetoxy-l 1 -ket0 progesterone (II) 117 mg. of the IZa-hydroxy-ll-ketoprogesterone (1) compound is dissolved in 2 ml. of pyridine and 1.5 ml. of acetic anhydride. After 16 hours at room temperature the product is worked up as described in Example 2. Recrystallization from acetone/hexane gives the purified product, M.P. 248251 C., [041 257 20.80 mg./2 ml. chloroform.

Analysis.-Calculated for C H O (388.49): C, 71.11%; H, 8.30%. Found: C, 71.21%; H, 8.34%.

Similarly, following the procedure set forth in Example 3, but substituting equivalent amounts of propionic anhydride, butyric anhydride and benzoyl chloride for acetic anhydride, the 12oc-acyloxy derivatives of ll-ketoprogesterone are obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 I Za-hydroxy-J J -ket0pr0gester0ne (I) g. of 9a-bromo-1l-ketoprogesterone dissolved in 500 ml. of dioxane. To this solution is added 4.0 g. of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 300 ml. of water. The

for 15 minutes. It is then diluted with 1 liter of water and extracted with 3 x 400 ml. of chloroform. The organic phase is washed free of alkali with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to a resinous mass. Crystallization with acetone/hexane gives 7.0 g. of product, M.P. 186190 C., identical in all respects with the ihydroxy-ll-ketoprogesterone obtained in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5 I 1 ,1 2-di0x0pr0gester0ne (VII). and 11-hydr0xy-A pregnadiene 3,12,20-tri0ne (VIII) 793 mg. of 12a-hydroxy-1l-ketoprogesterone is dissolved in 27 ml. of acetic acid. After the addition of 1.48 g. of bismuth oxide the solution is heated under re flux for 30 hours. It is then cooled to room temperature and filtered to remove metallic bismuth and bismuth salts. The solution is then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform 3 x 60 ml. The organic phase is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to give a mixture of 11,12-dioxoprogesterone and A -11-hydroxy-l2-ketoprogesterone. The ultra-violet spectrum of the mixture: )\max. 239 m emax. 11,930; Amax. 275 m emax. 4,030.

'The mixture may then be separated into its individual components by fractional crystallization.

Similarly, if the 12a-hydroxy-1l-ketoprogesterone of Example 5 is replaced by 11u-hYdY-OXY-12-k6lO-PIOgEStBT- one, 11,12-dioxo-progesterone and ll-hydroxy-A pregnadiene-3,12,20-trione are obtained. I

EXAMPLE 6 1 1,B-hydroxy-IZ-ketoprogesterone 250 mg. of 12a-hydroxy-1l-ketoprogesterone is dissolved in 20 ml. of methanol containing 2 g. of potassium hydroxide. The solution is heated under reflux for two hours, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The organic phase is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to a .pale yellow resin. Paper chromatography shows N 50% starting material, N 30% 11u-hydroxy-12-ketoprogesterone and N 20% 11B- hydroxy-12-ketoprogesterone. The products are then isolated by column chromatography on alumina and elution of the column with benzene/chloroform and chloroform/ methanol mixtures.

EXAMPLE 7 11,B-acetoxy-lZ-ketoprogesterone (VI) Following the procedure set forth in Example 2, but substituting an equivalent amount of llfi-hydroxy-IZ- ketoprogesterone (V) for 11a-hydroxy-12-ketoprogesterone (III) there is obtained 1lfi-acetoxy-12-ketoprogesterone (VI).

EXAMPLE 8 1 1B-hydroxy-IZ-ketoprogesterone (V) 250 mg. of llot-hydroxy-12-ketoprogesterone is dissolved in 10% methanolic potassium hydroxide and treated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Example 6, to yield 1lfi-hydroxy-12-ketoprogesterone.

EXAMPLE 9 11-acet0xy-A -pregnadiene-3,12,ZO-trione (IX) Following the procedure set forth in Example 2, but substituting an equivalent amount of 11fl-hydroxy-A pregnadiene-3,12,20-trione (VIII) for 11et-hydroxy-12- ketoprogesterone (III) there is obtained 11 fl-acetoxy- A -pregnadiene-3,12,20 trione (IX).

EXAMPLE 10 11-methoxy-A -pregnadiene-3,12,20-tri0ne (X) Treatment of 1LB-hydoxy-A :pregnadiene-3,12,20- t-rione (VIII) with silver oxide and methyl iodide at reflux temperature followed by extraction of the product into wherein R is hydrogen; R is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and acyloxy; and together R and R is 0x0; and R" is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, a-cyloxy and lower alkoxy; wherein acyl is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms.

2. 1 1a-hydroxy-12-ketoprogcster0ne.

3. 1lfl-hydroxy-lZ-ketoprogesterone.

4. 1la-acyloxy-lZ-ketoprogesterone wherein the acyl radical is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms.

5. 1 1,12-dioxoprogesterone.

6. 11-hydroXy-A pregnadiene-3,l2-2O trione.

7. 11-acyloxy-A D-pregnadiene-3,l2,20-trione wherein the acyl radical is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms.

8. 12a-acyloXy-1l ketoprogesterone wherein the acyl radical is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms.

9. ll-lower alkoxy-A -pregnadiene-3,12-20-trione.

10. 1l-methoxy-A hpregnadiene-3,12,20-trione.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,956 11/61 Thomas et al 260-23955 3,030,391 4/62 Diassi 260397.45 3,052,694 9/62 Julian et a1. 260397.'5

OTHER REFERENCES Fieser et al.: Steroids (1959), copyright by Reinhold 25 Publishing Corp., New York, pages 676 and 609 relied on.

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEROIDS OF THE FORMULAE 